Carton for cushioned shipping and displaying fragile articles



Feb. 13, 1951 I; KLONER CARTON FOR CUSHIONED SHIPPING AND DISPLAYINGFRAGILE ARTICLES Filed Sept. 5; 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l pow IN VEN TOR.IHVM a Z /1 t UNA-R I. l. KLONER CARTON FOR CUSHIONED SHIPPING ANDDISPLAYING FRAGILE ARTICLES Feb. 13, 1951 .4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept.5, 1947 A 7'7'ORNE'Y Feb. 13, 1951 1. I. KLONER CARTON FOR CUSHIONEDSHIPPING AND DISPLAYING FRAGILE ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fild Sept. 5.1947 2 m. d2 1 mm s r m M V R f E. [F ON z 2 @vo v vmw ww J m S I. l.KLONER CARTON FOR CUSHIONED SHIPPING AND DISPLAYING FRAGILE ARTICLESFeb. 13, 1951 '4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 5, 1947 INVENTOR. [Hy/N6 I#1. 0 NH? Patented Feb. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES TENT QEEIQE CARTON FORCUSHIONED SHIPPING AND DISPLAYING FRAGILE ARTICLES 13 Claims. I

Ihis invention relates to shipping cartons for packaging fragilearticles such as those made wholly or partly of glass, and moreparticularly is directed to an improvement of a carton which isconstructed to support fragile articles therein cushioned to absorbshocks and strains in transportation and when roughly handled.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a carton for cushionedshipping and displaying fragile articles of the character describedcomprising few and simple parts, which shall be readily assembled from asingle blank sheet ma terial such as corrugated paper board to form acarton container or receptacle of inexpensive construction havingintegral cushioning means for supporting a fragile article within thecarton against damaging from rough handling in shipping and storage,which shall form a display means of neat and attractive appearance foran article packed therein when partly open, and which shall be practicaland efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope of the application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one illustrativeembodiment of this invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a flat sheet of corrugated paper board in theform of a rectangular shaped blank with fold or score lines andpartially through out lines laid out to provide a collapsible improvedcarton embodying the invention for cushioned shipping and display offragile articles,

Fig. 2 is a plan view like Fig. 1 showing corner portions of the blankfolded into positions for forming integral cushioning and displaystructures in assembling the improved carton,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 33 in Fig. 2,

Fig. l is a plan view like Fig. 3 showing the integral cushionedstructures infolded and secured together with the front, back and toppanel sides of the carton in an unfolded flattened-out position,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on lines 55 in Fig. 4,

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 are plan views of detached portions of the blank shownin Fig. l which form various members used in the improved cartonconstruction,

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken midway through the improvedcarton assembled to serve as a cushioned shipping and display containerfor a glass or mirror panelled cosmetic vanity case shown packedtherein,

Fig. 10 is a top elevational view corresponding to the assembly shown inFig. 9 showing the top panel side of the carton cut away to expose theinterior construction with details of the top and side cushioningsupporting arrangement surrounding said enclosed vanity case, and

Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross sectional view showingv alternative meansfor safely packing the mirror in the carton when dismounted from thevanity case using member portion of blank shown in Figs. 1 and 6 as acushioning spacer interposed between the mirror and the vanity case.

Referring now to the drawing. In Fig. 1, a blank 20 may be cut andscored from suitable sheet material such as corrugated paper board ofany well known manufacture used for making shipping cartons andcontainers. In practicing the invention for economy and to avoid waste,the blank 20 is out rectangular in shape and is so constructed andarranged that substantially each and every part thereof is utilized informing the finished carton for cushion shipping and displaying fragilearticles, such for example as mirror or glass panelled cosmetic vanitycase V shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

The blank 20 when out from a single sheet or from a web forming a rollof corrugated paper board of suitable width, is seen to comprise thefollowing successive wall sections or panels ex tending through thecenter portion thereof, a rear wall 21 adapted to provide an inner panelwhich is separated from a rear wall 22 forming an outer panel by spacedfold or score lines 23. A bottom center section 24 is separated fromsaid rear outer wall 22 by fold or score line 25 and adjoins an outerfront wall panel 26 separated from said bottom section 24 by fold orscore line 271. A top section 28 adjoins said front section 26 and isseparated therefrom by the fold or score line 29. Said top section 28may be formed with integral side flaps 2811 on opposite sides which areseparated from said top section 28 by spaced fold or score lines 30extending at right angles, that is, transverse the fold or score line29. Extending as a continuation of each of said score lines there isprovided a partial through-cut 3! which forms opposite edges of outerfront wall panel 28. Each of said cuts 3| also extends to the scorelines 30 of flaps 28a which are preferably made slightly shorter thanthe actual width of the top section 28 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so asto fit in the effective assembly structure as clearly shown in Figs. 9and 10.

Each of the partial through-cut lines 3| connects with a fold or scoreline 32 which form opposite edges of bottom section 24, and connectingwith the score lines 32 are spaced apart partial through-cuts 33, thelatter forming successively opposite edges of said outer and inner rearwall sections 22 and 2|, respectively.

Except for two space sections 34 that extend outwardly from bottomsection 24, which form end panels for the carton and are separate fromthe said bottom section 24 by score lines 32, the remaining portions ofblank 25 as yet not described, provide material for making up theinterior cushioning structure for the improved carton, there beingspaced apart fold or score lines 25a and 21a, which are continuations ofscore lines 25 and 21, respectively, and which with score lines 32 boundsaid section end panels 34.

Each partial through-cut line 33 with parallelly aligned partialthrough-cut lines 35 and 35 spaced therefrom provided in the blank 28beyond said inner and outer rear wall panels 2| and 22, form a pair ofbottom side cushions spacer portions 3'! and a pair of end panelcushioning integral members 38 located above, that is, outwardly of saidspacer portions 31. A pair of cross-bras ing portions 39 and 4|! arealso provided beyond each of the cushioning members 38 as seen in Figs.1, 4 and 5.

The bottom side cushion spacer portions 31 because of being proportionedto extend along a greater part of the width of both the inner and outerwall sections 2| and 22 are suificient to form looped structures in theset up assembly, said portions 31 may be provided with central extensiontabs 3112 that can be secured together in overlapped relation bysuitable fastening means, such as a staple 4|, shown in Figs. 4 and 5.In order to permit forming said cushion spacer portion 31 into a loopedstructure, spaced transversely extending fold or scor lines 42 areprovided at opposite ends thereof and a fold line 311) on each of thetabs 37a facilitates positioning the latter for fastening by staple 4|as can be seen from Figs. 1 and 4.

The pair of end panel cushioning integral membars 38 are each formedinto effective position by providing, beside each fold or score line 42,another fold line 43 between line 42 and one end edge 20a of the blank20, two closely spaced short fold lines 44 extending outwardly beyondeach tab 31a, a pair of spaced fold lines 45, and a two fold line 46spaced similarly to lines 44 between lines 45 and adjacent fold lines42. All of said fold lines 42, 43, 44 and 45 are parallell aligned, andan L-shaped slit 46a may be extended along one of said fold lines 46 andacross to the other for purposes hereinafter described.

As seen from Figs. 1, 3 and 4, each of said cushioning members 38 isfolded on score lines aforementioned to oifstand against the interiorside of end panel 34, and is braced by an intermediate triangular shapedstructure T formed on fold lines 44, 45 and 45, as shown in Figs. 3 and4. To retain the said triangular shaped bracing structures T rigid,coupling sections 513 and each formed with slots 54a and 5|a,respectively, may be used to interlock with slits 46a and the out outportion of members 38 left by tabs 37a. Said coupling sections 50 and 5|are shown'as a corner portion of the blank 2|] in Fig. 1, and detachedin Figs. 7 and 8, respectively. In Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, couplingsection 55 and 5| are shown in effective interlockment with thetriangular bracing structure T.

Cross bracingportions 39 and 40 which border on opposite longitudinaledges 23d and 230 of blank 20, respectively, are adapted to hinge onfold lines 25a, said portions 39 and 4G terminating in suitableinterconnectable ends, as for example, a male terminal 38a and acooperative slot 4%, respectively, as shown in effective position inFig. 4.

The improved carton construction above described provides for bottom andend cushioning means up to the cross bracing portions 39 and 40. Since,for the purposes described, it is often desirable to provide additionalcushioning means in the region of the top of th carton, such may beprovided as an integral part of blank 23 with a minimum of waste. Tothis end there is provided between the top section flaps 28a and theedges 2% and 25c of the blank 29, symmetrically disposed partialthrough-cuts 48 which provide a pair of front cushioning members 49adapted in the set up assembly to be positioned for cooperating with endcushioning members 38 and top side cushioning spacers 52 which areabove, that is, outwardly of said members 43.

Cushioning members 49 each have spaced fold or score lines 53 extendingfrom flaps 23a to the out line 48, and a pair of similarly spaced foldlines 54a and 54b parallelly aligned therewith but extending from outline 3| to each of the blank edges 20d and 200. An L-shaped through-cut55 in each cushion spacer 52 may be provided to connect with said out 48to form a tongue 55 spaced fold or score lines 51 being provided forbending said tongue 56 out of the normal plane of spacer 52 into anefiective position as shown in Fig. 10. Said tongue 56 can be slitted asat 55a to increase the flexibility of the end thereof.

As seen from Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 the remaining symmetrically positionedsections 50 of the blank 20 bound by score lines 27a, 54a, out line 3|and portions of blank edges 20c and 2501 provide inner front wall panelsin the set up carton as shown in Fig. 10.

Where said vanity case V to be packed has protruding ornamentations ordraw handles H, suitable cushioning clearancing means may be provided inthe cushioning structures, such as formed b providing spacedthrough-cuts 58 with fold or score lines 59 in members 43 shown in Fig.1 as extending transversely fold lines 540. and 54b and as shownefiective to clear handle H of the vanity case V in Figs. 9 and 10.

The practical application of the invention will now be apparent. Afterproviding the rectangular shaped corrugated paper board blank 28 formedwith all the fold or score lines and through cut lines, some of thelatter being only partially cut through so as to retain all portionsagainst accidental detachment as described above and shown in Fig. 1,said blanks 2d are then in most compact shape and size for stacking instorage and shipment before setting up as cartons.

Each blank 20 may be set up as a carton by first detaching members 53and 5|, and a member 6| which forms the corner of blank Zil oppositesaid members 50 and 5|, adjacent cross member 40.

Next, the remaining portions of the blank 20 on either side of inner andouter rear walls 2! and 22 are folded on score lines 25a to overlie endsection panels 34, that is, folded from the position shown in Fig. l to'that shown in Fig. 2. Also the portions of the blank 2:: oneither sideof the through-cuts 3| and side flaps 28a of top section 28 are foldedover score lines 54a to overlie inner front wall panels 50.

Member 31 is then looped to extend over bottom section 2 5, member 38folded on score lines 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46, to provide saidconstruction T, and member 49 folded on score lines 54a, 54b and 53 asshown in Figs. 3 and 4. The free end portion of said members 38 and 49may then be secured in place to end panels 34 by suitable fasteningmeans, such as staples 62, and coupling section 59 and M inserted toretain the said formations T.

The end panels 34 may next be folded from the position shown in Fig. 2to that shown in Fig. l, that is, on score lines 32 to upstand from thebottom section 24, and cross bracing 352 and 4c interlocked. Tabs Sla ofspacer portion 31 may be folded over on score lines 3% and secured inposition by a staple M for making the set up structure sufficientlyrigid for seating the vanity case V in proper position on edgewisepositioned bottom spacer 3'! between end cushioning members 33 andagainst interlocked cross bracing member 39 and 45.

The inner and outer rear panels 2i and 22 may then be folded on scorelines 23 and 25 so as to form a double upright rear wall cushioningstructure with the interlocked cross braces 38 and ii? extendingtherebetween, the wall section 2i being slitted at $3 on a sufficientspaced apart portion from the end thereof as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 toclear the thickness of the end cushion members 33, as shown in Fig. 10.

With the front section 26 and top section 223 still in flattened outposition, the front and top vanity case V is exposed and the carton inthis condition may serve as a display receptacle. Now to completepacking the vanity case V, inner panels 69 are folded on score lines 2%,to bring cushion supports formed by members 49 against the front side ofthe vanity case V and top cushioning spacer 52 may be folded on scoreline 53a and 56b and the tongue 5% folded on score lines 5'5 so as tobear against portions of the glass top side of the vanity case V, whichmay be hinged covers of compartments. The tongue 56 will take care ofdifferences in height of said vanity case top side as clearly shown inFigs. 9 and 10.

If a trunnioned mirror M forms. part of the vanity case V as shown inFigs. 9 and 10, the tongues 56 serve to retain the mirror againstswinging displacement for the packed position.

Where the vanity case V is provided with protruding drawer handles H, orother ornamentation, the portion of member 49 bound by cut lines 58 andscore line 59 may be utilized for clearances as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

With the top section 28 down-folded on score line 2% and flaps 28ain-folded on score lines Bi a firm relative tight closure is providedwhich may be sealed in any well understood manner, as for example withadhesive tape, not shown.

It should be noted that the improved carton with the vanity case Vpacked therein is supported in spaced relation from the top and bottomwall sections 23 and 24, respectively, by edgewise position spacers 49,52 and 3?, respectively, which retain said vanity case V against damageand absorb jarring effects to which the carton may be subjected from thetop and bottom sides thereof, while the front and rear upright sections60, 26, and 2!, 22 provide spaced double wall constructions to formeffective abutment cushioning means at the front and rear sides of thecarton, and end sections 34 with member 38 forming a spaced doublewalled cushioning construction for the opposite ends of the vanity caseV thus completely guarding the latter from direct impact strains andstresses to which the upright sides of the vanity case V may besubjected.

The above described cushioning structures formed by the interior andexterior of the carton as described above and shown in the drawing alsohave been found to protect the'packed vanity case V against injury thatmay be caused by accidental dropping of packed carton on a cornerthereof since said cushioning structures served as a bracingconstruction of sufiicient resiliency so constructed and arranged toabsorb such impacts without damaging the fragile contents.

As an alternative means for safely packing the mirror M in the cartonwhen dismounted from the vanity case V, there may be provided an arcuateslit 64 formed with a finger hole 64a to extend along inner rear wallsections 2| inwardly of end edge 26a, of blank 2&3, said slit 64 may beused with member bl having spaced tongues cm for packing the mirror Magainst said inner wall sections 2'! with said member 6! as a cushioningspacer interposed between the mirror M and the rear of the vanity case Vas shown in Fig. 11.

Where the carton is to be used for package shipping of straight sidedfragile articles only and the display feature not desired, the abovedescribed construction of the carton may be simplified by substitutingin portions of the blank 28 in place of cross bracing portions 39, 40,coupling sections 5s, 5i and member iii, a duplication of top spacerportions 52 with tongue 56 as additional cushioning means as has alreadybeen described and shown. In this latter construction it is desirable toapply adhesive tapes in the well understood manner to the upright edgesof the carton for retaining the outer rear wall section 22 to theupstanding end panels 34.

It is thus seen that there is provided a construction whereby theseveral objects of the invention are achieved, and which is Well adaptedto meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments of the above invention might be made,and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above described,and shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that all mattersherein set forth or shown are to be interpreted as illustrated and notin a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. A carton for cushioned shipping and displaying fragile articles ofthe character described formed of a single blank of sheet materialcomprising successive centrally extending sections foldablyinterconnected to provide a double spaced apart inner and outer rearwall, bottom, front outer wall and a top wal for the carton, spaced endwall sections foldably interconnected to extend from said bottomsections, spaced apart bottom spacer portions and end cushioning membersfoldably interconnected to extend from said end wall sections, saidblank having throughcuts separating said bottom spacer portions fromsaid inner and outer rear wall sections and dividing each of said bottomspacer portions from the end cushion-ing members, an inner front wallsection and spaced apart top spacer portions foldably interconnected toextend from each'of said end wall sections oppositely disposed to saidbottom spacer portions and end cushioning member, a front wallcushioning member foldably interconnected to extend from each of saidinner front wall sections, said blank having other through-cutsseparating each inner front wall section from the outer front wallsection, and dividing each front wall cushioning member from the saidtop wall section and top spacer portions from said front wall cushioningmember.

2. The car-ton as defined in claim 1 in which said blank is rectangularin shape and includes detachable sections adapted to cooperate with theinterior cushioning structure of the carton.

3. The carton as defined in claim 1 in which said blank is rectangularin shape and includes detachable sections adapted to cooperate with theinterior cushioning structure of the carton, and interlockable crossbracing portion foldably interconnected to extend from said endsections.

4. In a blank for forming a carton of the character described,cushioning wall formation means comprising bottom and spaced end wallsections foldably interconnected, sections foldably interconnectedtogether and to said bottom wall section for extending to provide adouble spaced apart inner and outer panelled rear wall, and bottomspacer portions foldably interconnected to said end wall section, saidblank having through-cuts separating said bottom spacer portions fromsaid inner and outer panelled rear wall, an interconnection portionextending from each of the bottom spacer portions bendably constructedfor looping thereof into an effective position on the bottom wallsection.

5. In the blank for forming a carton of the character described asdefined in claim 4 including attachment means extending from each bottomspacer portion so constructed and arranged to secure said spacerportions together in an effective cushioning position on the bottom wallsection.

6. In the blank for forming a carton of the character described asdefined in claim l, including end cushioning members foldably extendingfrom said end wall sections, said through-cuts separating the bottomspacer portions from said inner and outer panelled rear wall.

'7. In the blank for forming a carton of the character described asdefined in claim 4, including end cushioning members foldable from saidend wall sections, said through-cuts separating the bottom spacerportions from said inner and outer panelled rear wall, each of saidspacer portions having a foldable inter-connected tab extension tosecure said spacer portions together in an effective cushioning positionon the bottom wall section when said carton is set up to receive anarticle to be packed therein.

8. In a blank for forming a carton cushioning wall formation meanscomprising successive extending sections foldably interconnected toprovide bottom, outer front panel and a top wall for the carton, spacedend wall sections foldably interconnected to extend from said bottomsection, and inner front panel wall and top spacer portion foldablyinterconnected to extend from each of said end wall sections, a frontwall cushioning member fcldably interconnected to eX- tend from each ofsaid inner front panel wall sections, said wall formation means havingthrough-cuts separating each inner front panel wall sections from theouter front wall panel section and dividing each front wall cushioningmember from the said top panel wall section and a top spacer portion,and foldable interconnections for each top spacer portion to permitpositioning thereof as edgewise shock absorbing means between the topwall section and the carton contents.

9. In a blank for forming a carton cushioning wall formation means asdefined in claim 8, in which said through-cuts provide tongues in eachof said top spacer portions, and a clearance portion in each of saidfront wall cushioning members, and foldable interconnections for saidtongues and clearance portions to permit effective positioning thereofin said cushioning wall formation.

10. A carton for cushioned shipping and displaying fragile articles ofthe character described formed of a single blank of sheet materialhaving score lines and through-cuts, said blank being folded on saidscore lines into interconnected sections separate from each other bysaid through-cuts to provide a top and a bottom wall with edgewisepositioned spacers positioned between each of said top and bottom wallsand the top and bottom side, respectively, of a fragile article packedin said carton, spaced double wall constructions forming abutmentcushioning means for the front and rear of said article to serve as thefront and rear sides of the carton, end panels each having an interiorcushioning member for opposite ends of said article for completelycushioning and resiliently protecting said article to absorb impacts onany exterior part of the carton, and interlocking cross bracing portionsfoldably interconnected with said end panel sections extending betweenthe double wall construction to form an abutment cushioning means at therear of said article.

11. A carton for cushioned shipping and displaying fragile articles ofthe character described formed of a single blank of sheet materialhaving score lines and through-cuts, said blank being folded on saidscore lines interconnected sections separate from each other by saidthrough-cuts to provide a top and bottom wall with edgewise positionedspacers positioned between each of said top and bottom walls and the topand bottom side, respectively, of a fragile article packed in saidcarton, spaced double wall constructions forrning abutment cushioningmeans for the front and rear of said article to serve as the front andrear sides of the carton, end panels each having an interior cushioningmember for opposite ends of said article for completely cushioning andresiliently protecting said article to absorb impacts on any exteriorpart of the carton, said edgewise positioned spacer extending betweenthe bottom wall and the article bottom comprising a plurality of loopedstructure, and fastening means securing said looped structure togetherto provide a seat for said article.

12. A carton for cushioned shipping and displaying fragile articles ofthe character described formed of a single blank of sheet materialhaving score lines and through-cuts, said blank being folded on saidscore lines into interconnected sections separate from each other bysaid throughcuts to provide a top and a bottom wall with edgewisepositioned spacers positioned between each of said top and bottom wallsand the top and bottom side, respectively, of a fragile article packedin said carton, spaced double wall constructions forming abutmentcushioning means for the front and rear of said article to serve as thefront and rear sides of the carton, and panels each having an interiorcushioning member for opposite ends of said article for completelycushioning and resiliently protecting said article to absorb impacts onany exterior part of the carton, interlocking cross bracing portionsfoldably interconnected with said end panel sections extending betweenthe double Wall construction to form an abutment cushioning means at therear of said article, said edgewise positioned spacer extending betweenthe bottom Wall and the article bottom comprising a plurality of loopedstructure, and fastening means securing said looped structure togetherto provide a seat for said article.

13. A carton for cushioned shipping and displaying fragile articles ofthe character described formed of a single blank of sheet materialhaving score lines and through-cuts, said blank being folded on saidscore lines into interconnected sections separate from each other bysaid throughcuts to provide a top and a bottom wall with edgewisepositioned spacers positioned between each of said top and bottom Wallsand the top and bottom side, respectively, of a fragile article packedin said carton, spaced double Wall constructions forming abutmentcushioning means for the front and rear of said article to serve as thefront and rear sides of the carton, end panels each having an interiorcushioning member for opposite ends of said article for completely cushl-3 ioning and resiliently protecting said article to absorb impacts onany exterior part of the carton, interlocking cross bracing portionsfoldably interconnected with said end panel sections extending betweenthe double wall construction to form an abutment cushioning means at therear of said article, said edgewise positioned spacer extending betweenthe bottom wall and the article bottom comprising a plurality of loopedstructure, and fastening means securing said looped struc ture togetherto provide a seat for said article, said spaced double wallconstructions forming the abutment means for the front and rear of saidarticle and the top wall being foldably interconnected to permitpositioning thereof to fully expose the front and top of said articlefor display purposes.

IRVING I. KLONER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

